Florida voters, by a 41 - 22 percent margin, prefer Charlie Crist run for re-election as Governor,
rather than the U.S. Senate, but his 67 - 22 percent job approval rating and strong positive image
makes him a heavy early favorite for either office, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll
released today.

Crist, who has said he will make a decision about which office he will seek in 2010 after
the state legislative session ends this May, remains popular across party lines, as even Democrats
approve 66 - 22 percent of the job he is doing.

Without Gov. Crist in the Senate race, U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV, son of the former
senator with the same name, is the leader for the GOP nomination. There is no clear front-runner
among possible Democratic contenders, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack)
University poll finds, but Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio is surprisingly well-known and well-liked.

Florida voters support 59 - 36 percent additional legalized gambling to finance education
and to avoid additional budget cuts, with support across the political spectrum.

By a larger 63 - 33 percent margin voters want the State legislature to approve a deal
between Crist and the Seminole Indian tribe for Las Vegas style casinos that would reap money
for the state treasury.

"Gov. Crist has effectively frozen both the Governor's race and the Senate race. All
Republicans are standing back and waiting to see which office he will seek before deciding about
their candidacies since no one in their right mind will want to take him on," said Peter A. Brown,
assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"On the Democratic side, those who jumped into the Senate race assuming Crist would
seek a second term in Tallahassee are getting nervous," Brown added.

"If Crist runs for re-election, Connie Mack is way ahead of the rest of the field for the
Republican Senate nomination. The Democratic field is much more muddled. What's surprising
is that Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio is in the running. Much of her support comes from widespread
name recognition in the Tampa Bay area, but she may also benefit from being the only woman
potentially in the race. Interestingly, her 16 percent in the Democratic primary is almost exactly
what Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink received in a Quinnipiac University poll January 21."

In the GOP primary matchup without Crist, Mack leads with 34 percent, three times the
11 percent for U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan. Former State House Speakers Marco Rubio and Allan
Bense get 6 and 4 percent respectively.

When Crist is added to the field, he gets 53 percent, knocking Mack down to 13 percent
and the others to 5 percent or less.

In a Democratic primary, Mayor Iorio and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek get 16 percent each,
with 14 percent for U.S. Rep. Ron Klein and 5 percent for State Sen. Dan Gelber.

No Democrats have surfaced to run for governor, but by a 57 - 26 percent margin,
including 54 - 32 percent among Democrats and 52 - 27 percent among crucial independent
voters, Floridians say Crist deserves another term. Asked about a race between Crist and an
unnamed Democrat, the Governor leads 48 - 25 percent.

Florida voters approve 60 - 37 percent the installation of "red light cameras" at
intersections to charge drivers who run red lights, even if no police officer is present.

And by an overwhelming 78 - 19 percent margin, voters oppose a plan allowing the
state's public colleges, community colleges and universities to raise tuition 15 percent.

From February 11 - 16, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,001 Florida voters with a
margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points. The survey includes 433 Republicans with a margin
of error of +/- 4.7 percentage points and 367 Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 5.1
percentage points

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and the
nation as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed - http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.

9. (If registered Democrat) If the 2010 Democratic primary for United States
Senator were being held today and the candidates were - Pam Iorio, Dan Gelber,
Ron Klein and Kendrick Meek, for whom would you vote?

10. (If registered Republican) If the 2010 Republican primary for United States
Senator were being held today and the candidates were - Marco Rubio, Allan Bense,
Vern Buchanan and Connie Mack IV, for whom would you vote?

11. (If registered Republican) Suppose Governor Charlie Crist decides to run
for United States Senator. If the 2010 Republican primary for United States
Senator were being held today and the candidates were - Charlie Crist, Marco
Rubio, Allan Bense, Vern Buchanan and Connie Mack IV, for whom would you vote?

TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in
Florida today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat
dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? (*combined High also 63% on 9/23/04)

TREND: Governor Crist has proposed increasing legalized gambling in Florida to
help finance public education and avoid additional budget cuts? In general do
you think this is a good idea or a bad idea?

Feb 18 Apr 10
2009 2008
Good idea 59 55
Bad idea 36 40
DK/NA 4 4

38. Governor Crist has negotiated a deal with the Seminole Indian tribes to
allow them to operate Las Vegas style slot machines and card games like
blackjack in casinos around Florida. Supporters project that the state will
receive almost 300 million dollars initially and could receive 100 million
dollars a year in the future. The plan requires legislative approval. Do you
think this plan for Las Vegas style casino games should be approved by the
legislature or not?

39. Lawmakers are considering legislation that would allow localities to
install cameras at intersections to take pictures of cars that run red lights.
This would allow officials to charge drivers even if no police officer were
present. Do you support or oppose such a law?

40. State officials have given Florida's public colleges, universities and
community colleges permission to raise their tuition up to 15 percent a year.
Do you think these educational institutions should raise their tuition 15
percent or not?